President Trump Grants Full Pardon to Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht
In a move fulfilling one of his key campaign promises, President Donald Trump has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road darknet marketplace.
Trump announced the pardon in a post on Truth Social, stating, “I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross.”
The pardon comes after Ulbricht had been serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole since 2015, when he was convicted for running the Silk Road platform, which facilitated the distribution of narcotics and other illegal goods. Ulbricht was convicted of charges including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise.
Ulbricht’s case has become a rallying point for many within the crypto community, particularly those who argue that he should not be held accountable for the illegal activities of individuals using the platform, as he did not personally engage in the sale of drugs or illicit items but merely provided the space for transactions to occur.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump had pledged to grant Ulbricht a “Day One” commutation, a promise he fulfilled after taking office. The news of the pardon quickly had an impact on the cryptocurrency market, with the price of bitcoin (BTC) rising in the minutes following the announcement, possibly reflecting optimism that Trump’s executive actions align with his campaign commitments.
Additionally, the pardon serves as a further signal that Trump may follow through on promises for a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, including the potential creation of a strategic bitcoin reserve.
